Split-and-mix libraries are an excellent tool for the identification of peptides that induce the formation of Ag nanoparticles in the presence of either light or sodium ascorbate to reduce Ag+ ions. Structurally diverse peptides were detected in colorimetric on-bead screenings that generate Ag nanoparticles of different sizes, as confirmed by SEM and X-ray powder diffraction studies

In: Dalton Transactions, 2006, p. 5103 - 5112

This overview on one of the subjects treated in our group deals with the synthesis and study of low-dimensional polymer and molecular solid state structures formed with alkaline earth metal ions in non-aqueous solvents. We have chosen several synthetic approaches in order to obtain such compounds. The first concept deals with the "cutting out" of structural fragments from a solid state structure...

In: Crystal Growth & Design, 2006, vol. 6, no. 7, p. 1566–1568

The two-dimensional structure described here is the first example of a coordination polymer structure consisting of one-dimensional polycatenanes fused via silver ions. It can be derived from simple rings consisting of two silver ions and two ligand molecules.

In: Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2008, vol. 18, p. 5359-5362

Silver coordination polymer chains were deposited on Au(111) as a model surface, as well as on gold alloy and titanium as dental implant and restorative materials. The topography of the surface was analysed on the model substrate and it was found to be a nano-structured crystalline material. In vitro investigations in a flow chamber imitating the oral environment prove the anti-bacterial...

In: CrystEngComm, 2008, vol. 10, p. 1542-1549

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction of three new silver(I) complexes {[Ag₂·L₂](NO₃)₂(H₂O)₄} (1), {[Ag₂·L₂](NO₃)₂} (2) and {[Ag₂·L₂](NO₃)₂} (3). Whereas compounds 2 and 3 are...

Iron oxides are important minerals in biology and materials science. Using biomimetic synthesis, a variety of iron oxides have been fabricated. However, it is still not clear how growth modifiers like amino acids and peptides select different crystal phases of a complex material like iron oxide. The current paper shows that already with single amino acids, (incomplete) crystal phase selection is...

In: Chimia, 2008, vol. 62, no. 4, p. 249-252

Body-foreign materials are used more and more frequently in our lives: joint implants (hips, knees, fingers, etc.), catheters, pacemakers, dental and aesthetic implants, etc. The increasing numbers of patients requiring such implants also raises the absolute numbers of implant-related infections. Thus, it is known that body-foreign materials are prone to bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm...

In: Soft Matter, 2008, vol. 4, no. 3, p. 606-617

L-Valine-based oligopeptides with the chemical structure Z–(L-Val)₃–OMe and Z–(L-Val)₂–L-Cys(S-Bzl)–OMe form stable organogels in butanol. Both peptides are efficient gelators, but Z–(L-Val)₂–L-Cys(S-Bzl)–OMe crystallizes more readily than Z–(L-Val)₃–OMe. The two peptides can form mixed fibers, which also gel butanol. The resulting organogels are very similar to...

As previously shown, alkali and alkaline earth metal iodides in nonaqueous, aprotic solvents behave like transition metal halides, forming cis- and trans-dihalides with various neutral O-donor ligands. These compounds can be used as precursors for the synthesis of new mixed alkali/alkaline earth metal aggregates. We show here that Ln²⁺ ions form isostructural cluster compounds....